Respeto tops 2017 film poll, named best in 6 other categories

Respeto, Treb Monteras II’s debut film about a young rapper living in a Manila slum who meets his match in an aging poet living in his neighborhood, tops the Pinoy Rebyu poll of the best in Philippine cinema in 2017, with 32 poll participants submitting ballots in 14 categories.

Respeto also topped the categories for Best Director, Best Screenplay (Monteras and Njel de Mesa), Best First Feature, Best Supporting Performance (Dido dela Paz), Best Editing (Lawrence Ang), and Best Scene (ending scene). The film premiered in last year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, where it garnered several awards, including Best Film.

Best Lead Performance was topped by Joanna Ampil, who played Candida Marasigan in the acclaimed musical Ang Larawan. Ampil is a musical theater veteran but a first-time actor in a Filipino film. Aside from Best Lead Performance, Ang Larawan topped two other categories: Best Ensemble Performance for its cast and Best Soundtrack (music by Ryan Cayabyab and lyrics by the late Rolando Tinio). Ang Larawan screened during last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won Best Film and Best Actress, among other awards.

NeoManila (Mycko David) topped Best Cinematography, while Ramona Diaz’s Motherland was named Best Documentary. Carlo Manatad’s Fatima Marie Torres and the Invasion of Space Shuttle Pinas 25 was cited as Best Short Film.

Last year’s QCinema Film Festival was adjudged Best Filmfest, narrowly edging out C1 Originals. Interestingly, last year’s Best Filmfest, the MMFF, finds itself near the bottom at sixth place, with nearly all voters excluding it in their top 5.